Guijuelo may not be on the radar of most Spain-bound holidaymakers and indeed its unusual and extreme climate - think hot but short summers and long, cold winters, with constant mountain winds at an average altitude of 1,000 metres - probably wouldn’t make it that appealing to the average sun-seeker. However, it’s precisely these weather conditions that make it perfect for ageing and curing ham, with a shorter salting time required than in other regions and, because of this, a sweeter, more subtle flavour. The result? The most delectable ham you'll ever consume. Quality starts with stringent standards It doesn’t just start with the curing process, though - the pigs have to meet exacting breeding and feeding standards before they can go through the remaining processes that earn them the PDO Guijuelo stamp. For starters, they must be 100% or 75% Iberian breed. The stringent requirements that the ham must meet to earn the PDO certification continue after the salting period. Once the hams have been washed to remove the salt from its exterior, they’re left in climate-controlled conditions for two to three months to help draw the salt well into the flesh. They’re then hung for between 18 and 24 months, exposed to the unique conditions of the Guijuleo region to cure naturally, before being transferred to a cellar to age for at least 12 months or more often an average of 18 months. There are around 70 family businesses (many of which are fourth and fifth generation producers) within the PDO region. Within this designated territory, which includes Castile Leon, Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha and Andalusia, the pigs snuffle about freely, munching on meadow grasses and, during the October-March season, enjoying flavourful, nutrient-rich acorns. We’re all familiar with the importance of ‘free range’ and most of us probably also know that, even aside from animal welfare concerns, “free to roam” animals just taste better. In the case of these Iberian pigs, their wandering lifestyle means that their muscles develop and the fat from their diet works its way deep into their flesh, which is what gives the ham its ‘melt-in-the-mouth’ marbling, flavour and silkiness. What to look for before buying Iberian ham Next time you’re looking to buy an Iberian ham, look out for the different coloured labels, each of which gives further insights into the provenance and diet of the pig. Black and red labels both denote that the pigs have been acorn fed and that the hams are, respectively, 100% and 75% Iberian, while a green label means that the ham is no less than 75% Iberian and that it has been fed on “cebo de campo’ (cereal and legumes) and natural grasses. Delicious and nutritious ham The fat content in Iberian ham is undeniable - the meat glistens as it slides off the ham and on to the knife - but, since it has been demonstrated on more than one occasion that naturally occurring fats are beneficial to us, and that highly processed foods are exactly the opposite, that delectable unctuousness should be enjoyed! Besides that, Iberian ham has high levels of protein, minerals and vitamins, including the B vitamins, iron, selenium, potassium, zinc and iron.
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Seriously scrumptious popcorn handmade in BritainPopcorn Shed is an award-winning, family owned and operated gourmet popcorn company. Their moreish popcorn is lovingly handcrafted, using carefully sourced, natural ingredients, meaning it's free of any nasty preservatives or additives.
The popcorn range includes three classic flavours including Pecan Pie, Salted Caramel and Rich Chocolate, making it a great choice if you like your popcorn on the sweet side! We also loved the cute packaging, which represents the garden shed where the brand was born. To find the nearest Popcorn Shed supplier near you, visit: https://popcornshed.com/pages/stockists or order online https://popcornshed.com/collections/our-shop. A.A. Miln A sweet taste of Italy in the heart of LondonVenchi is an Italian family-run business renowned for its decadent chocolates and luscious gelato. Based in Piedmont, Italy, Venchi was founded in 1878 by Silviano Venchi. Today, its 140-year Italian legacy is as vibrant and innovative as ever as it continues to expand across the globe, delivering moments of pleasure to the masses in more than 70 countries. Venchi is ‘artisan’ at its best, showcasing the traditional Italian heritage of chocolate making while continuing to expand their luxurious range of products – currently they have 350 chocolate products and 90 gelato flavours (including seasonal flavours such as mango and pineapple and coconut sorbets for the summer months). It’s safe to say the world has fallen head over heels in love with their unique products and the integrity of their brand. Naturally delicious chocolate All ingredients are ethically and intelligently sourced with an emphasis on quality. Venchi sources pistachios and almonds from Sicily, olive oil from Liguria and cocoa beans from plantations in Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador. The chocolates are then produced in Piedmont – the birthplace of Italian chocolate. The chocolates are free from artificial flavourings, colourings, hydrogenated fats and palm oil and are light on sugar, free of gluten and full of natural flavour. Chocolate spreads and hot chocolate are made with the same care and attention as the finest praline. There really are no compromises made in their vow to “allow everybody, every day, to enjoy a simple and genuine moment of real pleasure - a piece of the Italian lifestyle”. It’s easy to see why Venchi has become so popular as you savour the most intense chocolate buttons with all the aroma of jasmine flowers or other chocolates with a distinct fruity hit. Some of their most popular products include the traditional Giandujotto and the Cremino, which features pistachio and elegant crème brulée. During my recent visit to Venchi, which included a chocolate tasting from GB Mantelli the guardian of Venchi’s recipes, I tasted the 100% cocoa chocolate, which took me by surprise as its savoury taste lingered in my mouth in a way no chocolate has ever done before; reminding me of the tannins in a good red wine. Handmade, small-batch gelato Venchi makes it gelato fresh each day in their ‘gelato laboratory’, using local English milk to avoid using long-life milk. During my visit, I enjoyed a medley of the highly revered gelato – nougatine followed by Cuor de Cacao adorned with chocolate grains and finally a strawberry sorbet to cleanse my palate – which rounded off my experience beautifully. The verdict
Venchi Covent Garden is in the iconic piazza, a perfect location for one of their sophisticated stores. There’s no better testament to their success than the swathes of Londoners who fill this boutique every day to be transported to Italy for a little mouthful of heaven. Venchi Covent Garden 18 Henrietta Street London WC2E 8RB http://www.venchi.com/uk Luci Lyne
For ease of preparation, you can shake your matcha tea in a handy, glass bottle with a neoprene cover to keep it hot or cold (£15.00). So, if you're an active person who wants to feel revitalised, while giving your body the essential nutrients it needs, quickly and easily, you'll love this range of teas. T-Tox is available at http://t-tox.com. A.A. Miln I love nothing more than lazying about on the weekends and when you combine that with my other favourite pastime - brunch - you're on to a weekend winner. Now what if I told you that you could enjoy a fabulous brunch in the comfort of your home (in your pajamas, naturally) - without even lifting a pan?! Introducing EatFirst, a unique breakfast delivery concept, which has a team of chefs who make all meals fresh every morning from a central kitchen in East London. Customers order via web or app and choose a list of 30-minute delivery slots available from 11.30am to 2pm and 6pm to 10pm. All EatFirst meals are diligently created by its team of chefs and delivered fridge chilled in oven-proof recyclable packaging. If the meal requires heating, you simply follow the instructions to finish heating the meal. The Berlin Brunch Menu We couldn't wait to give it a whirl and tried their Berlin brünch menu, which was developed by EatFirst’s Head Chef Benn Hodges and brünch founder Noemi Dulischewski. Created from a simple passion for bread, brunch, booze and Berlin, brünch is the first and only Berlin pop-up that brings the ultimate Berlin experience to London, and is about bringing people together to enjoy each other's company over a long, lazy Berlin style brunch. A collaboration bringing healthy German breakfast and lunch options alongside EatFirst’s inaugural brunch menu will delight mid-morning food lovers. With this new way to order and eat brunch, Londoners will be able to choose vibrant vegetarian, meat and savoury dishes, served alongside artisan breads, Virgin Marys and fresh juices. So, what did we choose? Here's a scrumptious overview of our EatFirst feast.... BERLIN BRÜNCH MENU – Prices from £3.95 Avocado & Beetroot Slider (V) by Chef Noemi Dulischewski Served on a thick slice of rustic sourdough, generous layers of avocado atop beetroot hummus and spinach leaves. Sprinkled with sea salt, toasted sesame seeds, micro greens, lemon zest and organic honey. Goats Cheese & Strawberry Slider (V) A thick slice of rustic sourdough with lamb’s lettuce, sliced honeyed goat’s cheese, fresh strawberries topped with crushed hazelnuts and wild thyme. Almond Butter, Banana, Quark Sourdough (V) by Chef Noemi Dulischewski Freshly made almond butter smothered on a thick slice of sourdough with sliced banana, thick churned quark, amaranth and chia granola topped with organic honey and thyme. Grilled Chicken Ceaser Salad by Chef Fanny Herpin Chicken breast is grilled and cooked sous-vide with thyme so the meat is juicy and evenly cooked. Served with crunchy romaine lettuce, hen and quail's eggs, toasted french baguette croutons and tomato confit. To serve, pour over our classic, creamy Caesar dressing, made with added Tabasco and lemon juice for extra flavour. Baby Back Pork Ribs by Chef Benn Hodges Our favourite dish this generous portion of ribs are glazed in a sticky, sweet chilli and sesame sauce and braised to make the meat tender. The cashew nuts, spring onion and coriander garnish, really makes it feel like gourmet comfort food at its best. We accompanied our scrumptious meal with some Cold Brew Coffee for a bit of a caffeine kick. Given that it was still pretty early when we received our order, we saved the Crate Brewery Lager for later in the afternoon! Overall, this is a fantastic service if you want quality food without the effort involved of cooking or going to a restaurant.
We'll definitely be giving it a go again sometime soon! https://www.eatfirst.com A.A. Miln Introducing a mellow mustard that's perfect for BBQ seasonA Taste Inspired by New York Delis... that you can now enjoy anywhere
While many people may be aware that some foods are more environmentally friendly than others, not everyone is aware of which foods are the biggest culprits when it comes to their impact on the environment. To help take the guesswork out of which healthy and eco-friendly foods families should choose during their weekly shop, Flora Freedom, the recently launched dairy-free vegan spread, has compiled a list of simple grocery swaps that have a more positive impact on the environment. For example, swapping beef for chicken in a stir fry just once a week for a year would be the equivalent to planting 11 trees! To determine the environmental impact of a variety of foods, Flora Freedom used a CO2 Calculator to analyse a selection of popular foods (noted in the table above) and found that small changes make a big difference.
Starting with beef, a weekly serving produces almost 7 times more carbon emissions than chicken. This swap, once a week for a year, is the equivalent to planting 11 trees or travelling more than 750km by car. When it comes to salad, not all vegetables are created equal. Cucumber produces 28 times more CO2 than carrots or the equivalent of travelling more than 150km by car. For dessert, simply swapping from pineapple to strawberries will produce almost 12 times less CO2. Additional research by the Carbon Trust looking into the environmental impact of butter, found that swapping to a dairy-free spread, such as Flora Freedom, for one day a week for a year could reduce carbon emissions by the same amount as 280 days of smart usage or the equivalent of watching 11 hours of television. And the added bonus is that Flora Freedom has 60% less ‘bad’ saturated fat than butter. Sounds like a no-brainer to us! For more information, visit the Flora website, where you'll find full details about Flora Freedom as well as lots of delicious dairy-free recipes. We can't wait to try out these delicious Dairy-free Banana Pancakes with Blueberries and maple syrup! Because scrumptious cheddar makes life better...I'm a bonafide cheese lover through and through, so I couldn't wait to try Black Farmer's Sweet Mature Cheddar cheese. This Sweet Mature Cheddar has the depth of flavour you expect from a mature cheese, but with a delicious sweet finish - does it get any better?!
What's more, The Black Farmer Sweet Mature Cheddar uses 100% British milk and is made using the traditional craft of ‘cheddaring’ by hand-piling and turning the curd. It's also gluten free and RSPCA assured, so you can nibble away without guilt. Serve with crackers, sprinkle over spuds or simply enjoy it on its own - the options are endless. Available nationwide (RRP £3.00 for a 400g pack). www.theblackfarmer.com A.A. Miln
We love Karma Cola, an ethical cola brand that has produced a range of tasty colas using cola nuts from Sierra Lione. For every bottle of Karma Cola sold, proceeds go to help people living in eight communities in the eight communities in the Tiwai region Sierra Lione.
Ethical and delicious - works for us. A.A. Miln When Blue Dragon, the company behind a range of fabulous Oriental food cooking ingredients, got in touch to challenge me to come up with a tasty recipe using a variety of their ingredients, I was a bit nervous as I'm by no means a chef, but I thought it would be fun to try something new! As I love both Thai and Chinese cuisine, I decided on a 'Thai-Nese' feast, combining my two favourite cuisines in one lip-smackingly delicious meal. Throughout the preparation of my two dishes - Dazzingly Delicious BBQ Duck and Simply Delicious Chicken Skewers, we found the Blue Dragon ingredients a cinch to use, helping to take the guesswork out of ensuring the perfect balance of flavours. To make your own Thai-Nese feast at home, click on the images below to download the recipes... Dazzlingly Delicious BBQ DuckSimply Delicious Chicken Skewers*This post is an entry to the Foodies100 Chinese New Year recipe challenge sponsored by Blue Dragon. The range of Blue Dragon products is available in all major supermarkets (RRP from £0.69).
www.bluedragon.co.uk A.A. Miln |
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